Fast and Furious: NRA calls for Holder’s resignation — and urges you to do the same

posted at 7:56 pm on October 31, 2011 by Tina Korbe

Attorney General Eric Holder’s part in the Fast and Furious scandal that intentionally funneled U.S. firearms to Mexican drug cartels has been narrowed down to either (a) a lethally irresponsible knowledge (and presumed authorization) of the program or (b) a lethally irresponsible ignorance of the program. Either way, the president has precious little factual support for his undimmed confidence in his AG — and politicians and outside organizations are calling him on it.

Now, add the National Rifle Association to the list of those clamoring for Holder to exit. The NRA has launched an ad campaign to urge the American people to pick up the phone, call the president and demand that he “hold Holder accountable.” The ad is a concise summation of the scandal that, somehow, has still yet to reach the eyes and ears of many in the lefty media (and, consequently, to reach the minds of those who consume mostly left-leaning media):

So far, Holder has hewn to the line that his congressional testimony of May 3 (referenced in the NRA video — and suspiciously confusing) was “truthful and accurate.” But he only spoke up to defend himself on that front because one outspoken congressman, Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), said any in the administration who knew of and accepted the program could potentially be an accessory to murder. Otherwise, the DOJ pattern from Holder down has been to stonewall the Congressional investigation of F&F.

The AG testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee next Tuesday, though, so we’ll see if he answers any questions convincingly then. It’s too much to hope he’ll inadvertently assume responsibility for either the program itself or his general incompetence, but no doubt that’ll be what Sen. Chuck Grassley will be gunning for.

One last reminder: NRA has a stake in this because the general plan of the program suggests it might have been politically motivated to “prove” that legally purchased weapons yet cross the border and do harm. As always, I hate to believe that, but have to admit it as a plausible possibility.

Update: Another new tidbit of information about Fast and Furious, via CBS reporter Sharyl Atkisson. Apparently, Lanny Breuer, head of the criminal division of the DOJ, definitely knew that the ATF had employed the gunwalking strategy during “Operation Wide Receiver,” a program started under the Bush administration. Why does that matter? Atkisson explains:

Today, Breuer issued a statement saying he “regrets” that he didn’t alert others in Justice Department leadership, apparently including his boss Attorney General Eric Holder.

In a separate ATF case reported by CBS News earlier this year, called “Fast and Furious” and started under the Obama Administration, Breuer says he likewise regrets not alerting leaders about the similarities in the cases. That, said Breuer, was a mistake.

Republican Congressional investigators say this new information contradicts the Justice Department’s original letter to them earlier this year insisting that gunwalking allegations were “false.”

“I, ummm, never thought, ahhhh awwwww, that Holder, umm, had any part of this, ahhhhh uhhhhh, problem and I, ummmmm, will not let, ahhhhhhuhhhhhh, Holder resign. Have I, uhhh, made myself, clear, uhhhh? Holder will not ahh, resign, due to ahhhh my asking him to ummm stay on.”

ummm.. the nra does quite a few good things and lots of stupid or bad things. I was a life member, until I found out that they were giving funds to Reid. Why oh why do I want an association that I thought was for the 2nd, to be part of the liberal establishment?

WHO: Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Deputy Secretary of State Jim Steinberg and United States Deputy Attorney General David Ogden

WHEN: TODAY, Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at 10:15AM

WHERE: White House Brady Briefing Room

Today, Department of Homeland Secretary Janet Napolitano, Deputy Secretary of State Jim Steinberg and United States Deputy Attorney General David Ogden will lay out the Administration’s comprehensive response to the situation along the border with Mexico. President Obama and his Administration are focused on all aspects of the U.S. relationship with Mexico because it is vital to core U.S. national interests.

The President is concerned by the increased level of violence, particularly in Ciudad Juarez and Tijuana, and the impact that it is having on the communities on both sides of the border. He believes that the United States must continue to monitor the situation and guard against spillover into the United States. And the President is firmly committed to ensuring our borders are secure and we are doing all we can to reduce illegal flows in both direction across the border.
We are taking steps on both sides of the border, working with our Mexican partners, to support the Mexican government’s campaign against the violent cartels and to reduce contraband in both directions across the border.

■Increasing focus on investigations and prosecutions of the southbound smuggling of guns and cash that fuel the violence and corruption;
■Addressing any instances of spill-over violence into the U.S.;

◦ATF is increasing its efforts by:
■Relocating 100 personnel to the SW border in the next 45 days, using dedicated resources from the economic stimulus, to fortify its Project Gunrunner aimed at disrupting arms trafficking between the U.S. and Mexico that has resulted in ATF referring more than 1,500 defendants for prosecution involving more than 12,000 weapons; and
■Continuing its eTrace Initiative which works with Mexican officials to forensically track weapons used in drug cartel violence. In FY07, Mexico submitted approximately 1,112 guns for tracing that originated in TX, AZ and CA.
(More….)
===============

One last reminder: NRA has a stake in this because the general plan of the program suggests it might have been politically motivated to “prove” that legally purchased weapons yet cross the border and do harm. As always, I hate to believe that, but have to admit it as a plausible possibility.

Really, Tina, there was no other possible explanation for FF than that. They wanted to use these discovered illegal weapons to push for more gun control. It’s, unfortunately, that simple.

SouthernGent: Please note that resignation, AFAIK, does not stop impeachment proceedings, and a conviction due to being impeached is the one area where the President cannot execute a pardon.

So if Holder is impeached, there is no pardon that can protect him.

Scott H on October 31, 2011 at 8:26 PM

No, the purpose and ultimate result of impeachment is removal from office. A resignation obviates and stops the entire process. Hence, the reason Nixon resigned. A “conviction” by the senate is not a conviction in the criminal law sense. You’re partly right, however, in that if Holder were removed via impeachment, there is nothing Obama could do to stop that removal. Theoretically, he could re-appoint Holder, but there’s no way a senate who has just convicted him is going to vote affirm his nomination.

Today, Breuer issued a statement saying he “regrets” that he didn’t alert others in Justice Department leadership, apparently including his boss Attorney General Eric Holder.

Looks like they are going to offer up Breuer as the sacrifical lamb, and try to stop it from going any higher than him. I wonder what they offered him to get him to take the heat and claim Holder didn’t know.

TXUS on October 31, 2011 at 8:29 PM

Actually, I think that is the cover story for far more nefarious ends.

That ad sucks, is absolutely fails to communicate the reason why gun-rights advocates should care about Fast & Furious. They need to spell out what everyone suspects: the Obama Administration trafficked guns to cartels in order to strengthen their argument that American gun sales were responsible for the violence in Mexico, which has been their primary talking point when discussing the “need” for more restrictive federal gun sales laws.

The NRA is single-issue focused in their support of the 2nd Amendment and why they are so effective. Although they are most often on the same side of the issue with Republicans, as weasel R’s have shown (Pete King R-NY, magazine capacity limit HR post Gabby Giffords shooting), those can be as unreliable as most D’s when it comes to supporting the 2nd. The weasel Reid has an inconvenient history of voting pro-2nd on most props all the way back to his early years. If a Congressman is solid on guns he gets the NRA’s support regardless of party.

Looks like they are going to offer up Breuer as the sacrifical lamb, and try to stop it from going any higher than him. I wonder what they offered him to get him to take the heat and claim Holder didn’t know.

novaculus on October 31, 2011 at 9:17 PM

i agree with that theory. Slaughter the lamb, preempt the house hearing, make it go away and LOOKIE THERE, it’s almost Christmastime and who but them awful Republicans going to steal Christmas from Eric and his kiddos…..//

You probably wouldn’t be a worthy opponent in poker, if you can’t understand strategy.

I sent the NRA an extra $1000.00 today, when I learned of this ad. The only thing I don’t agree with, is Holder MUST go to jail, not just resign.
It wouldn’t hurt if Obozo was held accountable for his part in this either, but then, that would be asking “Liberals” to indict their messiah, and we all know that ain’t gonna happen.

My thoughts exactly, Knucklehead. I don’t want a resignation – I want an indictment. And the perp-walk will make a great shot in a campaign ad.

This administration makes my nose bleed. Even the whole FOIA nonsense just makes them all look eminently corrupt, but since real journalism has gone the way of the dodo, most Americans have no idea the criminal mischief the president is up to. Where are the Woodward’s and Bernstein’s? Or is the media so invested in this thugocracy they’ve helped create that the president could shoot his own wife and they’d ignore it?

A Liberal Scumbag participates in an effort to discredit U.S. gun owners by becoming involved in breaking the law and murder and we hear mewling by people who “used” to support the NRA except for Reid, jackbooted thug comments, single-mindedness, or whatever.
I call B.S. on you, your statements, your truthfulness, manhood, parentage, and any other way that I could possibly insult you or any other similar creatures that crawl from beneath rocks and leave slime trails.

No, the purpose and ultimate result of impeachment is removal from office. A resignation obviates and stops the entire process. Hence, the reason Nixon resigned. A “conviction” by the senate is not a conviction in the criminal law sense. You’re partly right, however, in that if Holder were removed via impeachment, there is nothing Obama could do to stop that removal. Theoretically, he could re-appoint Holder, but there’s no way a senate who has just convicted him is going to vote affirm his nomination.

TXUS on October 31, 2011 at 8:41 PM

You’re absolutely correct re: impeachment. However, neither impeachment and removal from office nor resigantion before impeachment precludes later criminal prosecution and doesn’t constitute double jeopardy. Holder is still accountable for crimes committed while in office even after leaving office. Most likely secnario is that Holder eventually resigns and Obama pardons him for “any crimes committed while in office.” case closed.

Where are the Woodward’s and Bernstein’s? Or is the media so invested in this thugocracy they’ve helped create that the president could shoot his own wife and they’d ignore it?

av8tr on November 1, 2011 at 12:42 AM

Woodward’s and Berstein’s? They only crawl out of their holes when there’s a Republican administration. Remember, Democrats are our “natural” political rulers and merit special protections so they can perform their nation-saving duties without undue obstruction or oversight. But don’t worry. These amateur proctologists are lining up their gloves and KY just waiting for the next Republican administration so they can perform their media anal exam and report on all the horrible things they want you to think they found.

“NRA has a stake in this because the general plan of the program suggests it might have been politically motivated to “prove” that legally purchased weapons yet cross the border and do harm. As always, I hate to believe that, but have to admit it as a plausible possibility.”

Why would you think otherwise, Tina? Don’t you remember all the big MSM stories citing the fed stating that gun shops were the largest providers of illegal weapons to Mexican cartels? Open you r eyes to what has been going on.